Spread sheet



April 9, 1946.

INVENTOR. 4 50 L E/VZ BY ATTORNEY April 9, 1946. LENZ 2,397,967

SPREAD SHEET Filed June 15, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Mfg/w IN VEN TOR. LfOLENZ ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 9, 1946 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SPREAD SHEET Leo Lenz, New York, N. Y. I Application June 15, 1944, Serial No. 540,451

3 Claims.

The invention relates to spread sheets of the type in which the member sheets are in movable connection with each other so as to be capable of being relatively shifted to spread positions in which the information, data or the like contained on said sheets is readily visible.

In existing types of such spread sheets the member sheets are slidably interlocked with each other by means of independent metal or other devices. The latter are bulky and because of this restrict the number of member sheets which may be combined with each other within reasonable dimensionable limits. The independent devices furthermore are diflicult to combine with the member sheets nd are easily lost or misplaced.

The object of the invention is to provide a novel spread sheet of maximum efiiciency and in which the disadvantages referred to above and other existing objections are entirely overcome and avoided.

The invention contemplates further the provision of a novel spread sheet in whichth'e member sheets are slidably connected with each other by devices constituting integral parts ofthe sheets themselves.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel spread sheet as set forth in which the member sheets in addition to being slidably adjustable relatively to each other are'capable of relative hinged movement so as to be adjustable to unfolded positions at will.

Other objects will appear from the description hereinafter and the features of novelty will be pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, which il1us-.

trate an example of the invention without de-. fining its limits:

Fig. 1 is a face view of one of the member sheets of the novel device;

Fig. 2 is a rear face view of the spread sheets illustrating the member sheets in connection with each other and with the terminal member sheet partly unfolded;

Fig. 3 is a rear face view of the novel spread sheet as it appears in'its normal condition;

Fig. 4 is a rear face view of the novel spread sheet showing the member sheets thereof adjusted to spread or separated positions;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the novel spread sheet with the member sheets thereof in spread relation;

Fig. 6 is a rear face view illustrating the member sheets in a spread position and with one of said member sheets in an unfolded relation;

(o1. zen-21) Fig. 7 is a cross-section on the line 'l----'! of Fig. 3, and

Fig. 8 is a longitudinal section on the line 88 with the parts in a somewhat distorted relation sheets ill of predetermined dimensions and preferably of rectangular form as shown. The member sheets l0 may be made of paper, metal, textiles, wood, composite materials or any materials suitable for the intended purpose. At one end each member sheet [0 is provided with a flap I l in hinged connection with the member sheet Ill in any convenient manner as by means of a score line i 2 extending transversely across said sheetas illustrated.

The member sheets [,0 are provided with means constituting integral parts of said sheet and adapted for cooperation with a corresponding means on associated member sheets in to slidably unite said sheets with each other in a manner to slidably connect said sheets together in surface engagement with each other as will be more fully pointed out hereinafter.

In the illustrated example, each member sheet I!) accordingly is provided at predetermined points with slots i3 located in spaced alinement with each other for instance, as illustrated. In addition, each member sheet in is provided with guide members I4 projecting toward each other in co-operating pairs and having their opposite ends in hinged connection with the associated member sheet as illustrated at [5 in Fig. 1. In the illustrated example the guide members M are formed in the flap II by cutting the same along parallel lines It and transversely at IT. With this arrangement the opposed ends of the guide members l4 are normally disconnected from each other to enable the guide members M of one member sheet ID to be inserted from opposite directions through the slots I3 of an adjacent member sheet [0, as shown in Figs. 2 and 6. After the guide members I 4 of the folded back flap II have been inserted through the slots l3, as stated, the contiguousends thereof are connected with each'other in any convenient manner as for instance by means of a section of Scotch tape l8, or the like. When thus connected the guide members l4 form continuous guide strips whereby the member sheets III are slidably connected with each other.

In practice, the guide members M of one member sheet I0 extend through the slots l3 of the next adjacent member sheet In with the flap ll but also is foldable on the score line l2 to the position illustrated in Fig. 6.

In the normal condition of the spread sheet the member sheetsilfl comprised therein are 10- cated in registering superimposed relation in the form of a pad as shown in Figs. 3 and "I. The

g respective member sheets l may be transversely to each other in surface enshifted relatively gagement so as to project transversely beyond each other as shown in Fig. 4. It will be underwill determine the extent to which said sheets stood that the member sheets 10 may be correspondingly adjusted so as to project transversely beyond each other in the opposite direction from that shown in Fig. 4. If for any reason it should become necessary or desirable one or member sheets Ill of a given group may be unfolded on the score line or lines l2 out of surface parallelism with the succeeding member sheets Ill of said group, for instance, to the position shown in Fig. 6. In this way the respective member sheets it are capable of being slidably adjusted relatively to each other in transverse directions to expose data or other information appearing along the margins of said sheets,

but in addition said sheets may be folded relatively to each other on the score lines l2 to expose the opposite surfaces of one or more of said sheets.

ber sheets l0 illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5, or in opposite transverse relation, the information or data appearing along the margins of the respective member sheets-Hlmaybe compared with each other iffor any reason this shouldbe desired. At the same time, by enabling the member sheets ID to be foldably adjusted for instance to the position illustrated in Fig. 6 any information or data appearing upon the opposite faces of said member sheets l0 may be exposed to view. 7

By slidably connecting the membersheets Ill of a given group with each other in the manner set forth any number of member sheets 10 may be combined without making the entire device unduly bulky. The connecting means shown and described also makes it unnecessary to employ independent connecting devices which add to the thickness and bulk of the spread sheet and thereby restrict the number of member sheets which may be efficiently combined in the form of a unit. The novel arrangement also avoids the necessity for the use of metal or any other material which underexisting conditions is' difiicult to procure, and provides an arrangement of maximum simplicity and of very high efficiency.

The member sheets 10 may be used for containing ny kind of data, for keeping records, or may contain comparative statements, advertising matter, prospectus of any kind, or any other written or printed matter. The device may further be used efficiently for color comparisons by providing'the various member sheets ID with different colors produced thereon in any convenient manner.

more of the With the adjustment of the mem-.

' may be spread relatively to each other in transverse directions.

Although the present invention has been described in conjunction with a preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that modifications and variations may be resorted to without de-' parting from the spirit and scope of the invention, as those skilled in the art will readily understand. Such variations and modifications are considered to be within the purview and scope of the claims. j

I claim:

1. In a spread sheet of the kind described, a member sheet provided with slots located in spaced alinement with each other, a flap at one end of said member sheet'in hinged connection therewith, and guide members constituting inte-' gral parts of said flap and each in hinged connection therewith at one end, said guide members projecting toward eachother for insertion from opposite directions through the slots of an adjacent member sheet whereby said member sheets-are slidably connected with each other.

2. A spread sheet comprising a plurality of member sheets, each provided withslots located in spaced alinement with each other, guide members constituting integral parts of said member sheets and projecting toward each other in cooperating pairs with their opposite ends in hinged connection with the associated member sheet, the guide members of each member sheet extending slidably through the slots of an adjacent member sheet whereby contiguous member sheets are slidably connected with each other for relative adjustment in surface relation to each other, and means whereby the ends of associated guide members are connected with each other to form a continuous guide strip." I

3. A spread sheet comprising a plurality of member sheets each provided with slots located inspaced alinement with each other, a flap at oneend of each member sheet inhinged connection therewith, guide members'constituting integral parts of said flapsand projecting toward each other in co-operating pairs with their opposite ends in hinged connection with the associated flap,- the guide members of each flapextending slidably through the slots of an adjacent memper sheet whereby contiguous member sheets are slidably connected with each other for relative adjustment in surface relation to each other, and means whereby the ends of associated guide members are connected witheach other to form a continuous guide. strip. LEOjLENZ. 

